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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Have you heard of Harvey Prince? I hadn't and now I wonder how that's possible!

The company was co-founded by two brothers who were inspired to make a perfume for their mom on Mother's Day {insert total aww moment here!}. All of their products are used with the finest products--no toxic chemicals, 100% chemical free, and are made right here in the USA. The end product is a beautiful scent meant to empower women by making them feel young, happy, slim and sexy {what more can you ask for?}.

Naturally, I was thrilled when I was contacted by Harvey Prince and introduced to their perfume line! Of all their fun and inventive scents, I was most drawn to Yogini! It has sultry notes of sandalwood, grapefruit, star jasmine and more. It's very luxurious and lingers with you throughout the day. I was surprised with how sophisticated it is in person. It will definitely become one of my go-to perfumes to wear on a regular basis.

Harvey Prince has graciously offered to giveaway the Yogini perfume to one of you! Here's how to enter:

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

We got our first BIG snow storm yesterday...Tahoe is finally seeing winter! While for many, that means skiing and sledding...for me, it means, warming up by the fire and eating something warm and yummy! :)

I've always loved fondue and never realized how easy it is to whip up! It's great for parties or as an easy app. Plus the combinations are endless, which makes for some fun pairings!

Cheese Fondue Recipe

1/2 cup white wine

1 Tb flour

6 ounces cheddar cheese

6 ounces Monterey jack cheese

1/2 tsp garlic salt

A couple pinches cayenne pepper

In non-heated fondue pot, add in wine and flour and mix together until well blended. Turn fondue pot to high heat. Once boiling, turn down heat to simmer and let it thicken--about 1-2 minutes. Keep heat on low and add small amounts of cheese, while stirring. This should create a thick, cheesy mixture. Stir in garlic salt and cayenne pepper to taste.

The fun part is picking all the goodies to dip in the cheese! I like breads and apples myself...but really, there are tons and tons of options.

This particular fondue is super savory, but not too rich! The cayenne pepper adds a surprising flavor that really rounds out the cheese.

Monday, February 27, 2012

How far along? 23 Weeks. According to "What to Expect When Expecting" I'm in my 6th month...woah!

Baby Size: A pomegranate or a large mango! His little face is fully formed this week! Can't wait to see it for the first time!Total weight gain/loss: 13 lbs. + {I will find out officially at my doctor's appointment today}. Update: official weigh in is 12-13 pounds. Good to know I'm on track! Baby is measuring right along and has a strong heart beat! :)Maternity clothes? Still the usual...this is the new lululemon top that I told you about here. See how long it is!Stretch marks? No, I am loving the Mustela cream I recently bought. Smells really good!Sleep: Sleeping great... waking up at about 4am to potty, but that's about it. I now also have a pillow on my side to hep support my tummy.Best moment this week: Finally deciding on our crib {details to come!} and getting my first baby shower invitation in the mail! My sweet friends back from home are throwing me one down in Southern CA! :)Miss Anything? With the Oscars yesterday, I again...missed having a glass of champagne! Wah wahh.Movement: Feeling him a ton...especially at night! I guess I know what his sleeping patterns are going to be like!Food cravings: Ummm, let's see. Nothing really out of the usual. Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope...even onions don't sound that bad!Gender: He's alllllll boy!Labor Signs: NoSymptoms: Lower back aches, though the pillows have helped that while sleeping. Oh and those awful moles...I'm getting some of them removed under my arm this week...as long as my doctor okays it.

Belly Button in or out? It's in, but getting more flat. Kinda looks funny this week.Wedding rings on or off? On...thank goodness for being preggers in the winter! :)Happy or Moody most of the time: HAPPY! This trimester has been really wonderful so far!Looking forward to: Meeting with HR to square away my maternity leave and getting the details secured on the nursery. If you follow me on Pinterest, you know I'm leaning towards a blue, gray and orange color scheme. More to come on this! OH and my doc appointment today!

Friday, February 24, 2012

It's Oscar Sunday...can you feel the buzz in the air? I am excited to watch the show, as usual!

It's not secret I love neon right now. And if I was an A-List Celebrity, I wouldn't hold back when it came to the red carpet! This Jason Wu gown is in one work: stunning. It definitely would take a confident lady to pull it off, but I can't think of a better way to wow the crowds than than the punch this dress gives.

Of course with such a vibrant dress, the accessories have to be subtle...which is why I chose black. However, each piece has an intricate detail that makes it special. And I think a hot pink lip really keeps this look fresh and youthful.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

We're back with another edition of Travel Schue! I love this series because we get to explore new cities through the eyes of local bloggers! I'm excited to introduce you all to Katie from Keep Calm & Carry On! This girl has a mad sense of humor and her blog covers a little bit of everything...from health & fitness, fashion, food, travel, and everything else. Plus she has a cute hubby and pup to boot! :) So give her a warm welcome everyone...take it away Katie!

I may not live in the city that never sleeps, or in the land of fashion in LA, but I do love my city and can't wait to share it with you today for Natasha's travel series.

So, what city will you get to see a little glimpse of today?

Columbus, Ohio.

...try to control your excitement;)

Most of you are probably wondering what the heck there is to do in Ohio, and that's okay, I don't blame you. However, I can tell you, I was born and raised here and there is always something fun going on. I'm pretty picky, too. I've had multiple bloggers visit me here and they really enjoy it {aren't blog friends the best?} I wouldn't lie to you, promise.

First things first:

Let me just say...I'm a girl who loves her shopping and her food.

I tend to plan my day around what, or where, I will eat next,

and my husband will never understand my online shopping habits.

Moving on, I love trying new restaurants around Columbus and staying busy.

That's what life is all about, right?

So, let's get started.

My hope is that maybe you will want to come visit when I'm finished, too. :)

Eat

The RossiOne of my favorite places to eat. It's in a trendy area in the Short North arts district, has great service, and affordable drinks & food.

Sushi RockYum. Just yum.

Lindey'sPerfect for a romantic dinner with your significant other. After dinner, walk around German Village and see all the cute older homes.

Thurmans Cafe (featured on Man vs Food for the massive hamburgers)

Short North Arts District

This area has so many options for dinner and many non chain restaurants. Enjoy a nice dinner out with friends in an up beat, modern area. One Saturday per month they have gallery hop, which is a great way to mingle, and see what Columbus has to offer!

...in the mood for delicious ice cream?

Go to Jeni's or Graeters (get the black raspberry chip) for the best of the best.

You can thank me later.

See

Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay Waterpark

The Zoo and Aquarium is rated in the top 5 in the US. They just got a new polar bear exhibit which is pretty awesome. Cool off at the waterpark and enjoy the lazy river!

The Ohio State University // Ohio Stadium

Home of the Ohio State Buckeyes and the famous horseshoe. It is known as the 2nd biggest campus!

Wyandotte Winery...like wine? I don't think I need to say any more.

COSI

A huge science musuem with hands on activities for adults and children. I still have fun going here and I've been so many times.

During the summer months?

My two favorite events: the Dublin Irish Festival & PGA Memorial Tournament.(both of these are excellent picks for the man in your life!)

Play

The Arena DistrictBars and nightclubs up and down the street. A guaranteed good time for a night out.

Short North

Huntington ParkEnjoy an early evening at a baseball game here in the heart of downtown.

High St Perfect if you want to shop in boutiques with clothes you won't find anywhere else.

North Market Farmers MarketDuring the summer, this farmers market is one of my favorite Saturday morning activities. Listen to a live band or singer while you walk around and check out all the different vendors.

In addition to all these lovely things, if you LOVE being on the water like I do {that's me above with my hand up, haha}, you can travel 2 hours north of Columbus to Lake Erie to visit Put-In-Bay, go boating, and visit Cedar Point (one of the top rollercoaster themeparks.)

So, what do you think, friends?

Have you ever been to Columbus (or Ohio) before?!

*If you love to travel/have the vacation itch every so often like I do, come hop on over to my blog, say hello, and read my 3 recent posts about my "Blacation" (blogger vacation)to Naples, Florida.

...Yes, you heard read that right. My husband and I just got back from going on vacation with another blogger and her husband.

It was an ah-mazing time!!

Thank you so much, Natasha, for having me today!

I told you Katie wouldn't disappoint! I would definitely love to travel to Columbus and spend a weekend with her...we would undoubtedly have an incredible {and crazy!} time! :)

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

I am super relaxed and even a little tanned from our getaway to Scottsdale. It was so nice to have four whole days of nothing but sun, rest, reading {I finished the second Hunger Games book!}, shopping, and great eating! We got to go to a movie theater called iPic where the chairs recline, there are pillows & blankets, and recliner-side service! You could order anything from booze to full meals...even candy in a martini glass! It was awesome!

I thought I would share some of my shopping finds with you...you know I have to take advantage when I get a chance to shop! ;)

This awesome top from lululemon is everything I have dreamed of and more! It's SUPER long in real life...which is great for a preggo like me and reversible. I am also loving the color...so pretty!

You know I am loving neon right now, so this Gap scarf totally spoke to me. I love the polka dots and it's really wide, which makes it more like a pashmina!

I got these flats in chalk and they are super comfy...more comfy than the other city flats I have. I think the elastic at the top helps. And bonus...they're on sale!

2 drops green food coloring (optional...we made these without the second time and they looked just as good}

Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl, combine egg yolks, sweetened condensed milk, and lime juice. Distribute evenly among the ten pie crusts and bake for 10-11 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool until they are room-temperature. Then transfer to refrigerator to chill until ready to serve.

We also topped ours with homemade whip cream. I'm sure Cool Whip or similar works just as well.

I think a little lime zest on top would make the perfect topper...especially if you don't dye the filling. These refreshing and zesty...and they're the perfect serving size.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Baby Size: A papaya...baby is one pound this week!Total weight gain/loss: 10+ poundsMaternity clothes? Rocking long shirts and tunics. And of course leggings for the most part!Stretch marks? Not yet...Sleep: Sleeping great now that I have the pillow between my legs.Best moment this week: Seeing baby move from the outside! So so neat...Ryan got to see it too!Miss Anything? Umm sounding like a broken record, but being in Scottsdale {aka vacation} makes me miss indulging in wine...and margs!Movement: Yes, lots of movement, mostly at night! :) Food cravings: MMM we got salted caramel ice cream and it is SO good!Anything making you queasy or sick: Doing pretty good in this departmentHave you started to show yet: Oh yeah...the bump is out and here to stay!Gender: Snips and snails, and puppy dog tails...that's what little boys are made of!Labor Signs: NoBelly Button in or out? In, but it's definitely making its way out!Wedding rings on or off? OnMood: Happy for the most part!Looking forward to: Doing a little shopping for Baby Schue {and my growing tummy!}.

Friday, February 17, 2012

I'll keep this short and sweet, as we are currently in Scottsdale, soaking in the sun! :) Sadly, I am also currently without my suitcase {it will hopefully be delivered by now!} and it has me thinking of all the amazing items I wish I had in my wardrobe...particularly for this vacation. What's not to love about this amazing aztec aesthetic? Are you digging this trend? I know I am!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Before I begin this post, I want to thank you all for your input, advice, recommendations and thoughts on yesterday's crib post! It was super helpful and really got us to narrow down our options. Of course, I'll let you know which one we ultimately pick!

Last weekend, we ran some errands down at the big box stores {which is a big deal when you live in a small town!}. It wasn't planned, but I found some great new additions to our living room! Remember how I told you I wanted to update that space {post found here}? Well I'm staying true to our 2012 honey-do list and got a jump start!

Here's what the living room looked like with the previous "red" color scheme:

I got rid of the red pillows and found these beautiful new light blue pillows at Marshalls! Here's a sneak peek:

I also just bought these creme and brown zebra pillows. They really help to tie in the new color scheme, don't you think?

On the opposite side of the living room, I made a couple more changes. Here's how things looked before:

And here's a sneak peek of the updated look:

I added a table and new mercury glass lamp {also from Marashalls}!

The next thing to do is take down the "fruit" paintings that are on that wall. I'm thinking something abstract and painted will do the trick. Do you have a favorite artist or Etsy shop worth checking out?

It's definitely progress, that I'm happy with so far! I'll reveal the whole room once it's all squared away.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Friends! I need your help! The hubs and I are in a bit of a pickle...we can't decide which crib to purchase for Baby Schue. As I'm sure many of you can imagine, there are tons and tons...and TONS of options! Everything from traditional to sleek & modern. Stylish to eco-friendly and everything in between.

I always thought I would go for a white and traditional crib, but when we found out we were having a boy, I thought it might be too feminine. I've really come around to the modern design and how many of them are two-toned. Which brings us to our dilemma...which one to pick. I would love to get your opinion, whether it's from personal experience with one of these cribs or purely because of aesthetics.

This is the MUU All Slat Ray Crib...it retails for $795. I love the modern look and the two-toned wood. It's taller than most modern cribs at 37.5 inches and made from solid maple. It doesn't mention whether the white paint is non-toxic. I love the sleek design and the hint of wood tone at the bottom. It almost has a retro feeling.

This is the Babyletto Mercer 3 in 1 Convertible Crib, which retails for $359. It also has the modern lines and the two-toned woods. There is an additional drawer at the bottom, which I've read is kind of flimsy, so it wouldn't be used for any heavy duty storage. Babyletto is known for being baby-friendly with all of its non-toxic finishes and so forth. The downside about the crib is how short it is...only 35" tall.

Next up is the Netto CUB 2.0 Sleeper Crib, which I found for $695. I actually like this one a lot! It comes in a darker walnut finish, but appears to be $200 more, which is just not gonna cut it. What do you think of the beech finish? Again, love that the finish is non-toxic, and it measures at 41"...though other sites show it measuring in at 36" tall.

Last, we all know how hard it is to teach old dogs new tricks. This is the Lolly & Me crib, which is the least expensive option at $299.99, and of course the most traditional. Despite it's more traditional look and low price point, this crib appears to have all the same toxic-free finishes of the modern options. The only thing it's missing is the two-tone wood, but maybe it's more versatile for children down the way. And it's also the tallest of the 4, measuring in at 43" tall.

Alright, so give it to me straight. Which one is your favorite? Do you have a favorite that I'm missing? I definitely appreciate your input!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

I wanted to post a sweet little treat today in honor of the holiday. I guest posted this very recipe over at Laura's blog a week ago and thought this was too cute to pass up sharing with all of you!

For me, Valentine's Day is all about everything red, pink and sweet! Cupcakes are one of my favorite desserts, so I thought these red velvet cupcakes would hit the spot!

I love the combination of the chocolate cupcake with the savory cream cheese frosting. I don't make my frosting too sweet so that they're not overly rich. I thought these turned out perfectly...and how festive are these for Valentine's Day?

Red Velvet Cupcakes

{Barefoot Contessa's How Easy is That?}

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup buttermilk, shaken

1 tablespoon liquid red food coloring

1 teaspoon white vinegar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature

Red Velvet Frosting, recipe follows

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin tins with paper liners.

In a small bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a large measuring cup, combine the buttermilk, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed for 1 minute, until light. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until combined. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients alternately in 3 parts, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, and mix until combined. Stir with a rubber spatula to be sure the batter is mixed.
Scoop the batter into the muffin cups with a 2 1/4-inch ice cream scoop or large spoon. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean. Cool completely in the pans and frost the cupcakes with Red Velvet Frosting.

Red Velvet Frosting:

8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar (3/4 pound)

A couple drops of pink food coloring

Place the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, and mix on medium speed just until combined. Don't whip! Add the sugar and mix until smooth.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Baby Size: Banana or carrotTotal weight gain/loss: I think about 9-10 pounds.Maternity clothes? Leggings and more leggings. Occasionally maternity jeans or dresses with tights, but it's getting less comfortable to have non-maternity tights and leggings squeeze my ever-growing bump! I'm thinking it's time to buy some Gap maternity leggings.Stretch marks? No...just bought Mustela per Jessica's recommendation! :)Sleep: While I've been sleeping well, my lower back is really taking a toll. I am now sleeping with a pillow between my legs to help out my lower back and hips. Oh the joys!Best moment this week: Sounds silly, but I bought baby hangers and I loved hanging all his little things in his closet. Hoping to narrow down our crib choice this week so we can really start putting the nursery together.Miss Anything?I missed having a glass of red wine on our date night Saturday...we tried a new Italian restaurant and it sounded good! But we did have the homemade chocolate gelato which more than made up for the wine! :)Movement: Lots and lots of movement! And Ryan got to feel him move for the first time as we were going to bed. It was such a cool moment...totally made me emotional! Food cravings: Hmm I have been craving a fried egg on toast the last couple days. Otherwise, nothing too unusual.Anything making you queasy or sick: Overeating can make me feel blah...there's not as much room in there as you would think!Have you started to show yet: Oh yeah baby!Gender: Handsome little boyLabor Signs: NoBelly Button in or out? It's in...but getting more shallow by the day.Wedding rings on or off? OnMood? Feeling happy and really enjoying this trimester!Looking forward to: A little "babymoon" in Scottsdale this coming weekend! It will probably be my last "vacation" before the baby comes so I intend to soak in some sun and do some shopping for the little mister! :)

Oh and of course I'm looking forward to spending my last Valentine's Day as a couple! :)

Friday, February 10, 2012

Do you have any romantic plans this weekend? We're planning on hitting Target, Costco, Trader Joes, Home Depot...maybe Bed Bath & Beyond, I don't know...I don't know if we'll have enough time! {wink!}. I'm actually pretty excited to start scoping out some nursery items for Baby Schue! But I know a lot of you may use this weekend to celebrate Valentine's Day...which is this coming Tuesday! <3

If we were celebrating in some romantic way, I would totally wear this outfit! I'm loving the ever-popular color combo of pink and red right now! And how adorable is this striped handbag?! I am obsessed with this entire look from the flower brooch to the lip butters!

Hope you all have a great weekend...whether it's a candlelit dinner or a Tarjay haul! ;)